Carroll Saussy believes that women, especially, have difficulty with self-esteem because their lives are shaped and controlled by patriarchal rules and roles that make them second-class citizens. Only in recent decades and in highly educated or politically active communities have women awakened to and begun to expose the damaging effects of the domination-subordination soul of patriarchy. Saussy takes a theological and ideological approach in reviewing the system that fosters such poor self-esteem.